The NFL season is kicking off with one of the league’s most historic rivalries, as the Minnesota Vikings welcome the Green Bay Packers to U.S. Bank Stadium for a massive NFC North showdown on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The Border Battle rarely needs extra hype, but opening a new season against a division rival makes this matchup even more important.
For fans wondering where to watch, the answer is straightforward. Packers vs. Vikings will be televised on CBS, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET / 3:25 p.m. CT. In the Twin Cities market, the game will air locally on WCCO. CBS plans to broadcast the matchup to most of the United States.
The game will receive one of CBS’s premier broadcast crews. Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties, former NFL star J.J. Watt will serve as analyst, and Tracy Wolfson will report from the sidelines. For a rivalry as significant as Packers-Vikings, the national broadcast treatment feels appropriate.
Fans who prefer streaming have several options. Viewers whose local CBS station carries the game can stream it through Paramount+, subject to subscription and local availability. NFL+ also provides live local and prime-time regular-season games on supported mobile devices, while NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube and YouTube TV is an option for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon viewers.
Radio listeners will have strong coverage on both sides of the rivalry. Minnesota’s broadcast will air on KFAN 100.3-FM, KTLK 1130-AM and the Vikings Audio Network, with Paul Allen calling the action alongside analyst Pete Bercich and sideline reporter Ben Leber. Green Bay’s coverage will be available through the Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee, Larry McCarren and John Kuhn on the call.
But this game is about much more than television channels and streaming subscriptions.
This will be the 132nd overall meeting between the Packers and Vikings, adding another chapter to one of the NFL’s defining divisional rivalries. The two teams also closed the 2025 season against each other at U.S. Bank Stadium, meaning Minnesota and Green Bay will now begin the new campaign against a very familiar opponent.
For Minnesota, opening at home represents a major opportunity. U.S. Bank Stadium should be packed with purple, and the Vikings will want to turn that energy into an immediate advantage. Beginning the season with a victory is important enough; doing it against Green Bay could provide an early boost in what promises to be another competitive NFC North race.
The Vikings’ offense will be one of the major storylines to watch. Justin Jefferson remains a player capable of changing a game whenever the football comes his way, and Green Bay’s defense must find ways to prevent Minnesota from generating explosive plays. The battle between Jefferson and the Packers’ secondary could become one of the afternoon’s defining matchups.
Green Bay, meanwhile, understands exactly how difficult winning in Minneapolis can be. Crowd noise can make communication challenging, particularly in critical third-down situations. The Packers will need to stay disciplined, protect the football and avoid allowing Minnesota’s defense to feed off the atmosphere.
Another important battle will take place at the line of scrimmage. Rivalry games often come down to which team controls the trenches, and this matchup should be no exception. Establishing the running game, protecting the quarterback and winning third downs could prove more important than any individual highlight.
The stakes are immediate. Neither Minnesota nor Green Bay wants to start the season 0–1 overall and 0–1 inside the NFC North. With divisional tiebreakers potentially becoming crucial later in the year, Sunday’s result could carry significance far beyond Week 1.
📅 Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
⏰ Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET / 3:25 p.m. CT
🏟️ Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium — Minneapolis, Minnesota
📺 TV: CBS
📱 Streaming: Paramount+ where the local CBS game is available / NFL+ on eligible devices / NFL Sunday Ticket for eligible out-of-market viewers
🎙️ Vikings Radio: KFAN 100.3-FM / KTLK 1130-AM / Vikings Audio Network
🏈 Matchup: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
The Border Battle is back. Two historic rivals, one packed stadium and an early NFC North statement waiting to be made.
SKOL VIKINGS! 💜💛🏈🔥 — LET THE BORDER BATTLE BEGIN!
